Lingua, or The Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses for Superiority · chunk 11 of 51
Tomkis, Thomas · published 1607 · first performed or written 1607 [1602-1607] (Annals) comedy; allegory unassigned nearest T46 Swords, quarrels and valour · 481 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T46: rapier, sword, fight, gentlemen, gentleman, kicked, kill, dagger, signor, valour.
Who am I, who am I, who I? By the bloodstained falchion of Mavors— I am on your side. Why, who am I? Are you a soldier? No. Then you are master Helen the Bear-heard, No, no, he's dead. Or Gulono the gutty Sergeant, or Delphino the Vinter, or else I know you not, for these are all my acquaintance. Would I were hanged if I be any of these. What Mendacio, by the faith of a Knight thou art welcome, I must borrow thy Whetstone to sharpen the edges of my martial compliments. By the faith of a Knight, what a pox, where are thy Spurs? I need no spurs, I ride like Pegasus on a winged horse, on a swift Jennet, my Boy, called fear. What shouldst thou fear in the wars? he's not a good soldier that hath not a good stomach. O, but the stink of powder spoils Appetitus' stomach, and then thou know'st when 'tis gone, Appetitus is dead, therefore I very manfully drew my sword, and flourished it bravely about mine ears, kissed, and finding myself hurr, most manfully ran away. All heart indeed, for thou ranst like a Hart out of the field, It seems then the Senses mean to sight it out. I and outfight themselves I think, and all about a trifle, a paltry babble, found I know not where. Thou art deceived, they fight for more than that, a thing called superiority, of which the Crown is but an Emblem. Mendacio hang this superiority, Crown me no Crown but Bacchus' Crown of Roses, give me no Sceptre, but a fat Capon's leg, to show that I am the great King of Hungary, therefore I prithee talk no more of state-matters, but in brief, tell me my little rascal, how thou hast spent thy time this many a day? Faith in some credit since thou saw'st me last. How so, where? Every where; in the Court your Gentlewomen hang me at their Apron strings, and that makes them answer so readily. In the City I am honoured like a God, none so well acquainted with your tradesmen: your Lawyers all the Term time hire me of my Lady, your Gallants if they hear my name abused, they stab for my sake: your travelers so dote upon me as passes, O they have good reason, for I have carried them to many a good meal, under the Countenance of my familiarity: nay your Statesmen have oftentimes closely conveyed me under their tongues, to make their policies more currant, As for old-men they challenge my Company by authority. I am exceeding glad of your great promotion. Now when I am disposed I can Philosophy it in the University, with the subtlest of them all. I cannot be persuaded that it art acquainted with Scholars ever since thou wert priest to death in a Print-house.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
Who am I, who am I, who I? By the bloud-staind fauchion of Mauors—I am on your side. Why, who am I? Are you a souldier? No. Then you are maister Hell the Bear-heard, No, no, he's dead. Or Gulono the gutty Seriant, or Delphino the Vinter, or els I know you not, for these are all my acquaintance. Would I were hangd if I be any of these. What Mendcio, by the faith of a Knight thou art welcome, I must borrow thy Whetstone to sharpen the edges of my martiall complements. By the faith of a Knight, what a pox, where are thy Spurres? I need no spurres, I ride like Pegasus on a winged horse, on a swift Gennet, my Boy, called feare. What shouldst thou feare in the warres? hee's not a good souldier that hath not a good stomack. O, but the stinke of powder spoiles Appetitus stomack, and then thou knowst when 'tis gone, Appetitus is dead, therefore I very manfully drew my sword, and flourisht it brauely about mine eares, kist, and finding my selfe hurr, most manfully ranne away. All heart indeed, for thou ran'st like a Hart out of the field, It seemes then the Senses meane to sight it out. I and out-fight themselues I thinke, and all about a trifle, a paltrie bable, found I know not where. Thou art deceiued, they fight for more then that, a thing called superioritie, of which the Crowne is but an Embleme. Mendacio hang this superioritie, Crowne mee no Crowne but Bacchus Crowne of Roses, giue me no Scepter, but a fat Capons legge, to shew that I am the great King of Hungarie, therefore I prethee talke no more of state-matters, but in briefe, tell mee my little rascall, how thou hast spent thy time this many a day? Faith in some credit since thou saw'st me last. How so, where? Euery where; in the Court your Gentlewomen hang me at their Apron strings, and that makes them answer so readily. In the Cittie I am honour'd like a God, none so well acquainted with your tradesmen: your Lawyers all the Terme time hire me of my Lady, your Gallants if they heare my name abused, they stab for my sake: your Trauellers so dote vpon me as passes, O they haue good reason, for I haue carried them to many a good meale, vnder the Countenance of my familiarity: nay your States-men haue oftentimes closely cōueied me vnder their tongues, to make their pollicies more currant, As for oldmen they challenge my Company by authority. I am exceeding glad of your great promotion. Nowe when I am disposed I can Philophy it in the Vniuersity, with the subtilest of them all. I cannot be perswaded that t' art acquainted with Schollers euer since thou wert prest to death in a Print-house.